Nail extracting device



. g- 19.53 J. J. DENOVAN ET AL NAIL EXTRACTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 16, 1950 INVENTORS g- 1953 J. J. DENOVAN ET AL 2,650,061

NAIL EXTRACTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 flg. 7 //4 Jab? Jflen awn andRoberifiDenM/an \INVENTORS.

1953 J. .1. DENOVAN ET AL NAIL EXTRACTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 16, 1950 I N VEN TORS,

BY 4 46 M Aug. 25, 1953 J. J. DENOVAN ET AL NAIL EXTRACTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 16, 1950 3 J ahn J'Denamn and 5 8- 1 1 fioberi'flflenamzz IN VEN TORS.

ficrrney.

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 NAIL EXTRACTING DEVICE John J. Denovan, Lachine, Quebec, and Robert A. Denovan, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 195,977

10 Claims.

This invention relates to tack and nail pullers.

It 'has heretofore been proposed to provide power-driven tack, pin, and nail pullers for use particularly in the fur trade. It is common practice in such trade to tack a fur or skin to a base surface for stretching or other treatment. Only the ends of the nails are driven into the surface, leaving approximately an inch of the nail projecting above the surface. Since a large number of nails, pins, or tacks are employed for even a single garment or skin, the step of removing the nails following treatment is usually slow and laborious. Nail pullers previously proposed for the purpose have not proved satisfactory generally because of unwieldiness and awkwardness of manipulation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a power-driven tack andnail puller of simple compact construction and having a guide or reaction member which supports the major portion of the device in spaced tiltable relation to the surface over which it travels whereby it may be readily guided into contact with the nails or tacks to be extracted. Other objects include the provision of simple, effective nail engaging and extracting members.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of device,

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the device shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of device,

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the device shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an elevation of the other side of the device shown in Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a nail pulling member,

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the nail pulling member,

Figure 10 is a side elevation of another modified form of the invention and Figure 11 is a sectional end elevation of the form shown in Figure 10.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the machine comprises a pulling disc I fixed to a driven shaft 2 journalled in a frame 3. The frame is supported on a shoe 4 fixed thereto and comprising a narrow rigid strip having a downwardly projecting portion 5 arranged to provide a running surface 6 on which the machine may be propelled over the surface of a support 8. It will be observed that the shoe 4 is located laterally opposite one side of the pulling disc I and the running surface 6 lies slightly below the lower periphery of the disc to support the latter in slightly spaced relation to the surface of the fur l. The running or riding surface 6 is relatively short (less than the radius of the disc) and its ends are curved to permit ease of movement.

Also mounted on the frame 3 is a nail directing housing 9 having a curved top wall or bafile l0 extending in spaced relation around the upper periphery of the pulling disc I and arranged to direct the nails H into a tray 12 carried by the housing rearwardly of the disc. The housing 9 is open at IE to permit access to the tray.

The pulling disc I preferably comprises a pair of circular plates [3 each having a bevelled edge l3 and having their minor faces disposed towards each other. Each plate has fixed on such minor or inner face a complementary centrally disposed raised section l4 having a plurality (preferably four) of radially projecting portions or legs 15 terminating in a pointed apex at the edge of such inner face. It will also be observed that the end of the meeting face of each leg is bevelled, as indicated at l6, to form, with the bevelled edges l3, a V-shaped groove IT. The plates are assembled with the sections [4 in complementary relation and are fixed together as indicated at 22. It will be apparent that spaces 23 are formed between the plates l3 intermediate the legs 15.

The shaft 2 may be driven in any suitable manner. As shown, the device includes a motor casing I8 containing a motor (not shown) and having a driving shaft l9 connected through a set of gears 20 to the shaft 2, the gears being housed in a gear case 2| mounted on the frame 3.

It will be observed that, in operation, the entire machine is supported in spaced relation above the surface under treatment by the shoe 4, and that the major portion of one side of the pulling disc and a considerable portion of the other side thereof, as well as the entire lower half of the periphery thereof, are fully exposed to view. Thus, with the pulling disc rotating in the direction of the arrow, the device is readily guided into engagement with the tacks or nails to be extracted. The head of the nail enters the space 23 between the plates and, as the shank of the nail enters the V-shaped groove ll, the

head is engaged by the pair of legs 15 and the nail is extracted. The extracted nail is carried around by the pullin disc, as shown, and finally thrown off, when it is deflected into the tray I2 by the baffle I 0.

I Since the shoe 4 is small and positioned at one side of the pulling disc, guiding of the device into engagement with a row of nails, pins or tacks is readily effected. Moreover, nearby nails or rows of nails are readily by-passed for subsequent extraction. Whether the nails are straight or bent, in a crooked line or a straight one, the machine may be conveniently and accurately guided to the head of the nail to be pulled, the shoe 4 being of sufiicient height to permit easy manipulation of the machine. The riding surface 6 of the shoe makes the machine readily tilta'ble to adjust the height of the machine to accommoclate nails of varying lengths. Both the guide and the pulling disc have smooth surfaces to avoid damage to furs or other materials being treated. The tapered groove I'I permits the indiscriminate extraction of nails, pins or the like of varying diameter.

Reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the modified device therein illustrated is closely similar to that already described but the driven shaft 2a is shown as directly connected to a flexible shaft 25, which substantially simplifies the structure of the device, as will be apparent, since the frame, gear case and motor casing are thereby eliminated.

The housing 25, clamped to the shaft at 2'1, has a depending portion 28 constituting a riding shoe having a curved lower surface 29 for convenient manipulation of the device about the surface under treatment. The housing 25 also has a curved upper wall 3U constituting a nail deflecting bafiie and a nail-receiving tray ,3! accessible through opening 32. As in the case of the modification of Figs. 1 and 2, the length of the surface 23 of the shoe is at least less than the diameter of the pulling disc.

It will also be observed that the width of the shoe 4 or 28 is not appreciably greater than the overall width of the pulling disc and may be appreciably less, as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figures 5 to 9, the machine comprises a frame including a casing It: in which is mounted an electric motor (not shown) having a driving shaft Hi2. At the forward end of the motor casing is a gear case I63 containing a worm gear I 34 mounted on drive shaft 192 and arranged to drive a transversely extending shaft I05 by means of a gear IE6. The driven shaft I05 extends laterally of the gear case and mounted on its outer end for rotary movement therewith is a nail or tack pulling disc IDI. The pulling disc IB'I comprises a pair of circular plates I88, each having fixed on its inner face a centrally disposed raised section I09 and a plurality of lugs I III on the peripheral portion of the disc extending tangentially to the edge of the disc, as clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9. The sections I99 and lugs Hil on the plates are of complementary size, shape and arrangement, and the plates are secured together with the sections I09 and lugs Hi3 of one plate in aligned and contacting relation with those of the other plate. It will thus be observed that a space is provided between the peripheral portions of the plates and in such space in uniformly spaced relation a series of pairs of mated lugs IN. A portion of the meeting face of each lug is bevelled or inclined, as indicated at H! towards the periphery of the plate I08 to provide a V-shaped peripheral groove H2 in each pair of lugs.

The forward end of the device is supported on a guide or shoe H3, which comprises a narrow U-shaped strip having its ends fixed to the gear case and its intermediate portion curved as indicated at H4. The guide H3 is located laterally opposite one side of the pulling disc I01 and its curved surface H4 extends slightly below the lower periphery of the disc. The guide H3 extends in length throughout only a minor portion of the length of the device and its length is considerably less than the diameter of the pulling disc. It will be observed that the guide constitutes the sole support of the device for engagement with the surface of a piece of fur or the like I I5, which is shown as tacked to a base H6. Thus, the entire machine except the pulling disc is supported in spaced position above the surface under treatment, and one entire side of the lower portion of the pulling disc and a considerable portion of the other side thereof is fully exposed to View.

A nail catching tray H! is fixed to the casing Ifll in rearward alignment with the pulling disc and is provided with a nail directing bafiie H8 extending over the upper portion of the disc and provided with depending side portions H9.

In operation, with the pulling disc it? rotating in the direction of the arrow, the device is guided into engagement with the tacks or nails to be extracted, as indicated at I20. The head of the nail enters the space between the plates I08 and, as the shank of the nail enters the V-shaped groove H2, the head is engaged by the lugs H0 and the nail is extracted. The extracted nail is carried around by the pulling disc, as shown in Figure 5, and finally thrown into the tray I ll.

Since the guide H3 is small and positioned at one side of the pulling disc, as in the case of previously described modifications, guiding of the device into engagement with a row of nails, pins or tacks is readily effected. The curved riding surface of the guide H3 makes the machine readily tiltable to adjust the height of the guide to accommodate nails of varying lengths.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the modification therein illustrated comprises a frame including a motor casing I2! and a gear case I22 housing the motor drive shaft 523, a worm gear I26 on the shaft, and a gear I25 driven by the worm gear. Gear 25 drives the driven shaft I26 which extends laterally of the case and on which is fixed a nail pulling disc I27. The disc iZI comprises a pair of arcuate plates I28 which are held in spaced apart relation by a spring member I29. A nut I29 in screw-threaded engagement with shaft I26 is adjustable to vary the spacing between the plates IZG. It will be observed that one plate is fixed to the shaft while the other plate is axially movable on the shaft but is keyed at I28 to the first plate. Extending outwardly from the periphery of the plates I28 are a plurality of nail engaging members each comprising a pair of complementary lugs I39 carried by respective plates I28. The ends of each pair of lugs are inwardly bevelled to form a V-shaped groove l3l which is adapted to guide the shank of a nail I 29 between the plates. Complementary shoulders I32 are provided on each pair of lugs for engagement with the head of a nail to extract the same.

The device rides on a guide or shoe I33 formed on the base of the case I22. While the guide I33 has a fiat material-engaging surface, it will be observed that it possesses all the other characteristics and advantages of the supporting shoes in the previously described modifications. Thus, it is on one side of the pulling disc, is of restricted width and is of much less length than the diameter of the pulling disc. The provision of means for adjusting the spacing between plates 28 is of considerable value in adapting the device for use with nails or pins of varying shank size.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine for pulling nails and the like comprising a frame, a driven shaft journalled therein, and a rotary nail extracting disc fixed to the shaft, said machine having only one supporting element projecting beyond the frame and arranged to engage a surface under treatment, said element consisting of a single shoe fixed to the frame, said shoe being located entirely to one side of and laterally opposite said disc and having a riding surface lying in a plane positioned slightly radially beyond the periphery of the disc and outwardly beyond said frame, said riding surface being engageable with said surface under treatment to support said frame and disc in elevated relation to said surface, said disc when so supported being engageable with nails and the like projecting from said surface under treatment, said riding surface being of less length than the diameter of the disc, said machine being free from projections laterally opposite'said shoe on the other side of said disc whereby said side of the disc opposite the shoe is fully exposed, and said machine being freely movable on said shoe over the surface under treatment and being tiltable on said shoe with relation to said surface under treatment.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, said riding surface being convexly curved.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said nail extracting disc comprises a pair of circular plates fixed together in axially spaced relation, and a plurality of nail engaging legs fixed between the plates, each leg having an end lying between the peripheral portions of said plates, said plates having nail-head receiving spaces therebetween intermediate said legs.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1, said nail extracting disc comprising a pair of circular plates fixed together in axially aligned relation, the inner surface of each plate having a complementary centrally disposed raised section maintaining said plates in spaced relation, a plurality of pairs of nail engaging legs extending radially outwardly from said sections and each having its outer end lying adjacent the periphery of said plates, the edges of said plates and the ends of said legs being bevelled to provide a nail shank receiving groove between each pair of legs.

5. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said nail extracting disc comprises a pair of circular plates fixed together in spaced relation, said plates having a space between the peripheral portions thereof, and a plurality of spaced nail engaging lugs fixed to the plates within said space, each said lug extending inwardly in an inclined direction from the peripheral edge of said disc.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said nail extracting disc comprises a pair of circular plates, means connecting the plates for rotative movement together, a spring between the plates to hold the latter in spaced relation, means for axially moving at least one of the plates to adjust the spacing therebetween, and a plurality of complementary pairs of nail-engaging lugs on the facing surfaces of said plate.

7. A machine for pulling nails and the like comprising a frame, a driven shaft journalled therein, and a rotary nail extracting disc fixed to the shaft, said machine having only one supporting element projecting beyond the frame and arranged to engage a surface under treatment, said element consisting of a single shoe fixed to the frame, said shoe being located entirely to one side of and laterally opposite said disc and having a riding surface lying in a plane positioned slightly radially beyond the periphery of the disc and outwardly beyond said frame, said riding surface being engageable with said surface under treatment to support said frame and disc in elevated relation to said surface, said disc when so supported being engageable with nails and the like projecting from said surface under treatment, said riding surface being of less length than the diameter of the disc and having a width not substantially greater than the width of said disc, said machine being free from projections laterally opposite said shoe on the other side of said disc whereby said side of the disc opposite the shoe is fully exposed, and said machine being freely movable on said shoe over the surface under treatment and being tiltable on said shoe with relation to said surface under treatment.

8. A machine for pulling nails and the like comprising a housing, a driven shaft journalled in the housing, and a rotary nail extracting disc fixed to the shaft externally of the housing, said machine having only one supporting element arranged to engage a surface under treatment, said element consisting of a portion of said housing located entirely to one side of and laterally opposite said disc and having a riding surface lying in a plane positioned slightly radially beyond the periphery of the disc, said riding surface being engageable with said surface under treatment to sup-port said housing and disc in elevated relation to said surface under treatment, said disc when so supported being engageable with nails and the like projecting from said surface under treatment, said machine being free from projections laterally opposite said shoe on the other side of the disc whereby said side of the disc opposite the shoe is fully exposed, and said machine being freely movable on said shoe over the surface under treatment and being tiltable on said shoe with relation to said surface under treatment.

9. A machine for pulling nails and the like as defined in claim 1, including a motor casing carried by said frame in parallel axial alignment with said shaft, said shoe being located between said one side of the disc and said motor casing.

10. A machine for pulling nails and thelike as defined in claim 1, including a housing constituting said frame, said shaft being journalled in the housing, and shaft connection means mounted on one side of the housing, said disc being located within the housing, and said element being constituted by a portion of said housing depending from the other side thereof.

JOHN J. DENOVAN. ROBERT A. DENOVAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 480,974: Spencer Aug. 16, 1892 901,697 Droszeghy Oct. 20, 1908 1,021,894 Rumsey Apr. 2, 1912 1,257,603 Hatch Feb. 26, 1918 1,268,021 Lancaster May 28, 1918 1,300,952 Goben Apr. 15, 1919 1,502,229 Beetz July 22, 1924 1,612,798 Beetz Jan. 4, 1927 

